Violations to be soon addressed

Danedri Thompson[email protected]
Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe intends to issue an opinion on two complaints against the Gardner City Council in the next few weeks.
Initially, Howe said his investigation into alleged Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) violations would be completed before the end of 2012.
His office is wrapping up the investigation, Howe said.
“That’s coming,” he explained. “We just sidetracked a few things. In the next week or two I should have a final report.”
Howe would not say who lodged two KOMA complaints against the Gardner City Council early last summer. He also will not say what the specific allegations against council members are.
However, Gardner News confirmed last fall through two sources that an investigator from the D.A.’s office questioned at least two city officials about a July 14 executive session and about a possible serial meeting violation related to an email.
During a July 14 work session, council member Larry Fotovich objected to going into executive session on five different occasions saying a discussion about overall salary structures should not be discussed in private.
“It’s something that can be gotten as part of the Kansas Open Records Act and is not something that should be kept secret,” he said prior to joining council in executive session on July 14.
All other council members voted each time, four-to-one, in favor of retreating behind closed doors.